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When we started working on finishing our house, I realized we weren't going to be able to take care of the paving on our own. Instead of trying to haul in concrete and hope for the best, I hired a professional paving contractor to come out and help. They were incredible to work with. They listened carefully to our requests, and then they started laying the concrete and leveling the surface. Within a few hours, we had a driveway and front sidewalk that looked incredible. This blog is all about the benefits of working with paving contractors, and understanding the problems you might come up against if you do things on your own.

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How To Repair Asphalt Damage So That You Can Install A Sealcoat

The elements can take a real toll on your driveway. If you do nothing to take care of your driveway, it will slowly decompose until you have no choice but to replace it. If you catch the damage before it goes too far, you should be able to make repairs and apply a sealcoat to extend the life of your driveway. It is important, however, to make sure that you make repairs correctly so that your sealcoat will adhere properly.

Filling Cracks

A sealcoat will not be able to be fill in cracks, so you will have to take steps to fill them prior to applying a sealcoat. Follow these steps:

1. If your cracks are thinner than one inch across, you will have to widen them with a chisel and hammer before making repairs.

2. Remove all lose and organic material from the crack.

3. Fill the crack about halfway with a rubberized joint compound. It is important to make sure any compound you use is rubberized so that it can flex with the stresses placed on your driveway.

4. Once the compound has had a chance to cure for at least a half hour, fill it the rest of the way.

5. Let the compound sit for at least a day before you drive on it.

Repairing Potholes

You cannot use the same steps to repair potholes that you use to repair cracks. A rubberized joint compound would not provide the support you need to be able to drive on your driveway. Use these steps:

1. Use a hammer and chisel to break off any pieces of your driveway that are not properly supported by underlying dirt.

2. Clean out all loose and organic debris left in the pothole.

3. If your pothole is more than six inches deep, fill the bottom of the pothole with sand.

4. Fill your pothole halfway with a patching compound and tamp it down.

5. Fill the pothole with compound until it heaps up for a couple of inches over the surrounding driveway.

6. Tamp down the compound until it is level with the rest of your driveway.

Once you have made these repairs, you are ready to apply a sealcoat. Not only will the sealcoat help to give your driveway a uniform look, but it will help to protect it from future damage. If you doubt your ability to make repairs or apply a sealcoat, you should call in a professional to help.